Why are longer Covids seen in trans and bisexual people?

The Covid-19 pandemic has had serious consequences for LGBTI + people around the world, as demonstrated by a United Nations report. Today other health consequences are highlighted.

It’s the media Their which reveals these amazing results on the strong presence of the long Covid within the LGBTI + community. A United States Census Bureau study noted that trans people and bisexual adults are more likely to report a long Covid.

According to the High Health Authority, the long covid is identified by “the presence of symptoms beyond 3 months after the acute episode” : “The most frequent symptoms are fatigue which can be severe, neurological disorders (cognitive, sensory, headache), cardio-thoracic disorders (chest pain and tightness, tachycardia, dyspnoea, cough) and disturbances in smell and taste. Pain, digestive and skin disorders are also common. “ These are all consequences of the disease that heavily affect the daily life of the people concerned.

According to the American study conducted with the National Center for Health Statistics, if 5% of cisgender men and 9% of cisgender women are affected by the long Covid, 12% of trans people report symptoms, as well as 14% of adults who identify as bisexual. By comparison, heterosexuals account for 7% and gays and lesbians for 5%.

Discrimination that prevents access to treatment

What could be the cause of these large disparities? Sexual orientation or gender identity are obviously not factors that would predispose to Covid. Rather, the systemic oppressions faced by LGBTI + people are at stake, and especially trans and bisexual people here.

Exposed to discrimination in access to health and care, trans people can be very far from medical facilities. These inequalities affect bisexuals alike, men and women alike, who also suffer from discrimination and bias in terms of health (especially mental and sexual), according to an American study.

“These inequalities can create fertile ground for chronic diseases and disabilities, two factors that can put a person at risk of developing Covid for a long time”to analyze Theirwhich also offers another reasoning to explain this over-representation of LGBTI + people in the long cases of Covid.

Due to their community history, LGBTI + people have already experienced an epidemic, that of HIV. They were able to mobilize to respond, find resources to understand how the disease spreads, challenge public authorities. If the comparison between the two epidemics has limits, they have in common that they disproportionately affect some precarious and vulnerable populations.

Additionally, a study conducted by the University of San Francisco showed that people living with HIV were more likely to experience symptoms of a long Covid.

It is not yet certain that vaccination can alleviate the symptoms of people who have experienced Covid for a long time. However, more scientific research will be needed to understand the disease. At present, no treatment is yet available to allow patients who have been affected, sometimes since the start of the pandemic, to return to a normal life.

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